Haiti secured a historic 2–0 win over Nicaragua to book their place at just their second-ever World Cup—an achievement made even more remarkable by the fact that their head coach has never set foot in the country.
Sebastien Migné, the 52-year-old Frenchman appointed 18 months ago, has been unable to travel to Haiti because of the ongoing conflict that has gripped the nation.
With Port-au-Prince under the control of armed gangs and widespread displacement affecting more than 1.3 million people, Haiti has been forced to stage its “home” fixtures roughly 500 miles away in Curaçao, off Venezuela’s coast.
Since the catastrophic 2010 earthquake, instability has worsened to the point that international authorities strongly advise against visiting the country of 12 million due to rampant kidnapping, violent crime, terrorism threats, and persistent civil unrest.
Unable to scout players on the ground, Migné depended heavily on phone briefings from officials within the Haitian Football Federation.
Haiti’s national team now consists entirely of players based abroad, including Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who was born in France.
The federation is also working to convince Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor—French-born to Haitian parents—to commit to the team.
The victory over Nicaragua confirmed Haiti’s long-awaited return to the global stage, marking their first World Cup appearance since 1974.
They will step onto football’s biggest platform next summer in the United States, Mexico, and Canada alongside fellow Concacaf qualifiers Panama—3–0 winners over El Salvador—and first-time qualifiers Curaçao, who advanced after drawing with Jamaica.
Haiti’s only previous World Cup outing ended in a first-round exit after defeats to Italy, Poland, and Argentina.
This time, against all odds, they return with renewed hope and a story unlike any other in world football.
